Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Habitat:

Common Marmosets are native to East-Central Brazil. They can be found in a number of forest habitats including Atlantic coastal, semi-deciduous, Savanna, Riverine, Dry Secondary Forests and Edge habitats.

Description:

Common Marmosets are relatively small monkeys with long banded tails. Males grow to an average height of 188mm with females growing to 185mm. Their coats are multi-coloured, with mottled brown, grey and yellow markings. They have white ear tuffs and claw-like nails known as tegulaes on most of their fingers with only their big toes having flat nails or ungulaes.

Status:

Least Concern

Interesting facts:

The name of the Marmoset monkey comes from a French word for shrimp or dwarf.

Their faces are hairless, but Marmosets do not have the ability to change their facial expressions.

Diet: insects, spiders, small vertebrates, fruit leaves, tree sap, and eggs from the nests of birds.

Reproduction: Males reach sexual maturity at 1 year old with females taking up to 2 years.

Lifespan: approximately 10 years in the wild and 16 years in captivity.

Group Structure: Marmosets are highly social within their group that can number up to 20 individuals and consists of a co-dominant breeding pair and subordinate members. All members of the group assist in caring for the infants including the dominant male.

Predators: Weasels; Otters; Badgers; small to large cats, Snakes, Owls, and other large birds of prey.